Exuberant Lush Nature

Go off the beaten track with this exquisite tour to Brazil’s top nature destinations. Start in the friendly northeastern city of Fortaleza; tour the historic center, stroll along the pleasant beaches and enjoy an al fresco seafood dinner. Next continue to Manaus, the metropolis in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Board an elegant sailboat and cruise the mysterious waters of the Amazon; visit local villages, fish for piranhas, observe the meeting of the waters, swim with pink river dolphins and look for colorful birds and playful monkeys. The next destination is São Luis, a facscinating city founded by the French and later occupied by the Dutch and Portuguese. The historic center boasts beautifully restored colonial palaces and 19th century houses decorated with colorful Portuguese tiles. Conclude this tour in the Lençois Maranheses, an impressive dune oasis dotted with fresh water lagoons. Then descend the Barreirinhas river, a leisurely trip along sand dunes, mangroves and small villages.   

 

Departures: Year-round
Places Visited: Fortaleza, Manaus, Amazon River, Sao Luiz & Lençóis Maranhenses.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

  • 1 nights of accommodation in Fortaleza
  • Daily breakfast and local taxes
  • Half Day City Tour Fortaleza
  • 2 nights of accommodation in Manaus
  • Daily breakfast and local taxes
  • Full Day Manaus & Novo Airao
  • 3 nights of accommodation onboard the M/V Desafio Cruise - Manaus
  • Full board, activities and taxes included
  • 2 nights of accommodation in São Luiz
  • Daily breakfast and local taxes
  • Half Day City Tour São Luiz
  • 3 nights of accommodation in Barreirinhas (Lençóis Maranhenses)
  • Daily breakfast and local taxes

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:

  • Meals and drinks, except as mentioned above
  • Tips and personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional tours and experiences
  • Any items not mentioned

Day 1: Fortaleza. Upon arrival transfer to Fortaleza selected hotel. 

Day 2: Fortaleza/Manaus.

Half day City Tour Fortaleza
During the tour we will go sightseeing by the main tourist points in Fortaleza. Such as: Beira Mar avenue, Porto do Mucuripe, Bairro Aldeota, the ex presidente Castelo Branco Mausoleum, Iracema beach, the Central Market, The fort Nossa Senhora da Assunção, The cathedral, Praça dos Mártires, the centre of tourism, the old Cadeia Pública, - stop for shopping), Leste Oeste avenue, The cultural centre Dragão do Mar, Monsenhor Tabosa Avenue. At appropriate time, transfer to the airport for flight to Manaus.  Upon arrival, transfer at the Selected hotel
 
Day 3 : Manaus/Novo Airão/ M/V Desafio. Early in the morning departure from hotel in Manaus to the pier.

Full Day Manaus & Novo Airao
You will board regular ferry boat that transport trucks, cars and people to the other side of the river. This will be the first contact with the reality of the people in Amazonas. The river crossing has a 10 Km length. Upon arrival, disembark and visit the fruit and fish market. We will continue through the regional road that will take us to Novo Airao. On the way we will encounter plantations of bananas, sebus, ceramic factories, and native vegetation already destroyed. We will visit a farm on a 30 minutes’ walk where we will see in the middle of the jungle fishing creation with 50,000 tambaquis, 1,200 turtles, and artificial beach for the turtle’s egg nesting and a lab for treatment of the turtles. We continue and reach a lake where we stop and sail a narrow river in canoes, visiting the river source (springs). Back to the bus we continue until the Manacapuru pier with its regional boats and fruit and fish market. Next we visit an igarape with crystal clear water and stop for lunch. Then we go through the road until Novo Airao, where the M/V Desafio awaits.
In the afternoon, boarding and welcome drink. Dinner onboard and orientation meeting about the cruise program. Navigation until the point where we will stop for overnight
 
Day 4:  Desafio Cruise.

Full day Dolphins watching & Amazon River
Departure to find the dolphins (river Amazon dolphins). Feed them with fish and back to the boat. Then visit a community that lives by the river, being in contact with their inhabitants, the so called “caboclos”. Walking through the jungle, survival training and explanations on the forest biodiversity. We will be able to see how manioc flour is manufactured, the life in the community, the public school and the medical post. Back to the boat for lunch. Navigation. In the afternoon we go out to fish the “piranha”, the most feared fish. Baits will be given to each adventurer so they can feel the ferocity of these fishes when they bite it. Return to the boat in time to rest before dinner. At night, sailing in canoes for observation of possible snakes, monkeys and pacas or “tatu”
 
Day 5: Desafio Cruise.

Departure to meet the Indians and have contact with the tribe and see some of their rituals. Back to navigation and enjoy the amazing green that the Amazon offers. Lunch. Arrival at a lake where we may tour with the possibility of some bird watching and the magnificent Victoria Regia. Dinner and departure to look for the alligators with flash lights in the middle of the jungle
 
Day 6 : Desafio Cruise/ Manaus/ São Luiz.
Early departure to enjoy the sun rising in the jungle, the awakening of the birds and the forest. Return to the boat and breakfast. Navigation towards the famous “meeting of waters” where the River Negro meets the brownish waters of River Solimoes, without mixing for several kilometers. Return to Manaus and disembark.
Lodging at a hotel in Manaus until time to be transferred to the airport for the flight to São Luiz

Day 7: São Luiz. Upon arrival, transfer to São Luiz Selected Hotel. 

City Tour São Luiz
A trip through the history of Marana. Live the almost 400 years of a multi ethnic city, large popular culture and owner of one of the bigger historic sites of the Americas. This trip is panoramic and on foot at the Praia Grande and Desterro districts (known nowadays as Reviver), with the guide support. A dialogue about the historic surrounded by the history
 
Day 8: São Luiz / Barreirinhas.  

In the morning, departure in private transportation to Barreirinhas (aprox. 3hrs and ½ drive), the entrance door to the Lençóis Maranhenses. Accommodation in Barreirinhas at Selected Hotel

In the afternoon, Regular tour by 4 x 4 vehicles to the Great Lençóis with a visit to the best lagoon in the time of the visit Return to the Hotel

Day 9: Barreirinhas.

Departure to a regular excursion on a speed boat on Prejudices River with stops at Assures, Mandacaru and Caburé, returning to Barreirinhas at the end of the day (lunch not included)

Day 10: Barreirinhas / São Luiz. Morning at leisure. At appropriate time, private transfer to São Luiz and accommodation at Selected Hotel
 
Day 11: São Luiz. At appropriate time, transfer to the airport.


Tour descriptions and approximate times are for informational purposes only.
Some places described may be substituted and/or approximate times may be subject to change, due to unexpected circumstances.